"I Will Not Defile Myself"

"But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself..."  Daniel 1:8a

Wednesday night as Amy Harris introduced November's study on Culture, I was transported back to my childhood - to a time when many of my classmates were discussing the show Soap at school.  I wanted to be able to join in their conversations and feel like a part of the "crowd" so I asked my parents for permission to watch the show.  Now, I knew the answer before I even asked the question - absolutely not.  There was no need for discussion.  There were topics portrayed on the show that my parents did not approve of; therefore, they did not see any benefit from any of us watching it.  

We read and discussed Daniel 1 Wednesday night where Daniel and his friends were captured and taken to Babylon to be slaves to the king.  They were not asked to do hard labor.  They were not given horrendous or menial tasks to do.  They were simply asked to eat the rich food the king sent them from his own table. Sounds down right horrible, doesn't it?  "Here, Daniel, eat this wonderful food the king has sent you straight from his very own table - food prepared as though it were prepared for him and not for slaves."  I mean typically you would expect slaves to be getting slop or bread and water, right?  This sounds like the royal treatment!  Most of the slaves agreed and had no problem doing as they were told.  Daniel, however, stood his ground.  God had given Him a directive as to how he should eat and how he should conduct himself, and Daniel was unwilling to compromise on that at all.  In the end Daniel and his friends not only found favor in the eyes of God but in the eyes of the king as well who found them "far superior to all the other young men."  Because Daniel was faithful to God he "gave (him) knowledge and skill in both books and life.  In addition, Daniel was gifted in understanding..."

As I have reflected on this lesson, I have been convicted.  Daniel did not compromise God's directives one bit for to do so would have given Satan a stronghold to weaken him in every area.  So I have to ask myself the tough question: have I compromised God's standard for me?  Once upon a time a show like Soap was off limits without any discussion.  What about today?  What is the standard set for today?   I cannot allow the culture of today's society to dictate my standards for me.  I must "resolve that I will not defile myself." for to do so is to obey God in every aspect of my life.  I owe Him no less!